Scandal at the IRS tax officials targeting conservative and Tea Party groups for special scrutiny. The white house of course coming under fire because the Treasury Department was told of the -- investigation a year ago. But tonight we have learned that some Republican members of congress were also told back then. ABC's -- and I don't -- from the White House to. -- force really good evening. Good evening to you David a senior Obama advisor said White House officials were first made aware of the I -- investigation in late April. But insisted President Obama wasn't made aware until he learned about it in reports in the media. White House aide Dan Pfeiffer also says no orders were given to the I -- to go after Tea Party groups bottom line no communication as far as you know from the White House to the IRS about this targeting. Now apps -- -- whether it's legal or illegal is is not important to the fact that it's dead. The conduct as a matter we have to make sure doesn't happen again senior Treasury Department officials first learned of the investigation last year. And apparently so did Republicans. The chaired the house oversight committee knew of the probe in June and roughly what would be in an higher -- inspector general's report. I knew when it struck me -- -- when we made the allegations about a year ago in this sense an open seat. An open secret says Republicans that calls for a deeper investigation. By -- to special counsels can end up being necessary here. -- meanwhile admits the targeting was wrong. But the White House will only go so far. What we're not dissipated and is partisan fishing -- position exhibition designed to distract from the real issues at hand. There will be more hearings on the hill this week and Republicans are -- calling for a wider investigation. Also -- -- arrest his future role in implementing Health Care Reform.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

{"id":19213452,"title":"IRS Targeting of Tea Party Groups an 'Open Secret'","duration":"1:44","description":"GOP congressman says Republicans knew of the investigation a year ago.","url":"/WNT/video/irs-targeting-tea-party-groups-open-secret-19213452","section":"WNT","mediaType":"Default"}